Contents
of Physics Courses| Code | Title | no. of lectures | Prac. | units | |
| PHY 101 | General Physics | This is an extended and enriched version of PHY 131. Enrichment includes computer based modu;es and selected experiments. Vectors, statics dynamics, work and energy, theory of sound, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, diffusion, electrostaics, direct current, magnetism, alternating current, optics, atom physics, radioactivity. | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| PHY 102 | Mechanics and Electricity | This course follows after PHY 101. Kinematics of a point, relatavistic kinematics, dynamics of particles, rotation and dynamics of rigid bodies, simple harmonic movements, electrostatics, electrodynamics, elementary alternating current theory | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| PHY 113 | Exploring the Universe | General introduction to astrophysics, astronomy and cosmology and as such is suitable for students od all faculties. The following topis are covered: the changing perception of the universe over the past millenia; the description of celestial objects such as planets, stars, the interstellar space, our galaxy and other galaxies and the cosmic ladder; the origin and the evolution of the universe; the probability of extraterrestrial life and efforts to search for it. | 14 | ||
| PHY 123 | Physics of Stars and the Universe | Celestial co-ordinate systems, time concepts, laws of Kepler, Keplerian orbits, radiation from the sun, stellar magnitudes, spectral and luminosity classification, binary and variable stars, evolution of stars and stellar clusters, Hertzsprung-Russel diagrams and classification and physical properties of galaxies. Determining cosmic distances is a key subject in astronomy. We explain the essential distance indicators which led us from "next door" to cosmic realms. | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| PHY 131 | General Physics | Mechanics, heat, electromagnetism, optics and modern physics. | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| PHY 171 | First course in physics | Mathematical introduction, kinematics of a point, dynamics of particles, rotation and dynamics of rigid bodies, simple harmonic motion, waves, sound, introduction to material properties. | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| PHY 171 | Dynamics and electricity | Electrostatics, electrodynamics, direct current circuits and instruments, magnetism, elementary alternating current theory, mirrors and lenses, interference, diffraction, elementary nuclear physics. | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| PHY 213 | Geometric Optics & Experimental Physics | 2 | 6 | ||
| Geometric Optics: | Reflection and refraction of light, Fermat’s principle, thin lenses, lense combinations, major planes, matrix techniques, optical systems, lens faults. | ||||
| Experimental Physics: | Basic vacuum techniques, experimental logic and data processing,
interference and diffraction of light, the constants of Planck and Rydberg, photoelectric
effect, Piranimeter, heat capacity. Recommended add. courses: PHY 214; WTW 218, 211. | ||||
| PHY 214 | Thermal Physics and Physical Optics | 2 | 4 | ||
| Thermal Physics: | Exact and approximate expressions for thermal expansion, quantity of heat, specific heats, heat transfer, equations of state, first law, second and third laws of thermodynamics and entropy, kinetic-molecular theory. Specific heats of gases and solids. | ||||
| Physical Optics: | Maxwell’s equations, plane and spherical waves, dispersion, phase and group velocity, Fresnel’s equations, principle of super-position, interference, diffraction - Fraunhofer & Fresnel. Recommended add. courses: WTW 112, 122, 123, 218 | ||||
| PHY 215 | Mechanics | Conservative forces, Lagrange equations and Hamilton’s principle, central forces, rotating co-ordinate systems, two-body problem, many-body problem, rigid bodies. Prerequisite: Good understanding of the mechanics in PHY 111 and 121 | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 221 | Electromagnetism | Forces and energy, dielectrics, steady state currents, magnetic materials, electromagnetic
induction, alternating currents, coupled circuits, transmission lines. Recommended background: PHY 215 | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 223 | Nuclear physics and electricity | Only in combination with PHY 221 | 2 | 6 | |
| Nuclear Physics: | Scattering of alpha particles, absorption of gamma rays, half-life, Compton effect. | ||||
| Electricity: | Semiconductor diode, transistor, differentiating circuit and filters, LCR circuits, transmission lines, thermoelectric effect, magnetic field in coils, microwaves and resonance. | ||||
| PHY 224 | Introductory quantum mechanics | Historical review, Fourier formalism and wave packets, Schrödinger equation in one dimension, probability interpretation, operators, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, one-dimensional time independent potentials, one dimensional harmonic oscillator, creation and annihilation operators. Recommended add. course: WTW 286 | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 311 | Statistical Physics | First and second laws of thermodynamics, para magnetism, phase equilibrium, quantum gas, blackbody radiation, Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics, Bose-Einstein statistics, Fermi-Dirac statistics. Students without a quantum mechanics background have to make arrangements for a introductory course with the lecturer. | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 312 | Advanced Quantum Mechanics | Particle wave function space, Dirac notation, Hilbert space, operators, formal postulates and physical interpretation, interference, two-level systems, three dimensional applications, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, hydrogen atom, spin section rules, perturbation theory and fine structure. Mathematical background: WTW 218, 211, 220, 221 is acceptable. Recommended: WTW 286 | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 314 | Continuous Mechanics | Co-ordinate systems, advanced vector analysis, mechanics of deformation, stress and strain tensor, propagation of sound in elastic media, ideal and real liquids, classical transport theory, one dimensional gass flow, Navier-Stokes equation, shock waves, turbulence, Reynolds numbers, relativistic fluid dynamics. Prerequisite: PHY 215. Mathematical background: WTW 218, 211, 220, 221, 282, 286 and 287 are acceptable. Recommended: PHY 315 | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 315 | Modelling Physics | Solution of systems of linear algebraic equations, interpolation and extrapolation, integration algorithms, special functions, root-finding algorithms, optimisation, boundary and eigenvalue problems, Fourier transform, ordinary and partial differential equations, Monte-Carlo methods, applications of modelling in physics. Mathematical background: WTW 218, 211 and 286 are acceptable. Recommended: PHY 215, 224; WTW 283; experience in FORTRAN, BASIC, PASCAL or C. | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 317 | Physics Project | Limitation: May only be taken in conjunction with a course selected from PHY 314, 315, 318, 319 | 2 | 6 | |
| PHY 318 | Semiconductor Physics and Electronics | 2 | 6 | ||
| Semiconductor Physics: | Description and classification, intrinsic semiconductors, impurity levels, extrinsic semiconductors, mobility, band structure, effective mass, band gap, p-n junctions and Schottky diodes, barrier layer approximation, I-V and C-V characteristics, transistors. operational amplifiers, ohmic contacts. | ||||
| Electronics: | |||||
| PHY 319 | Thin Film and Surface Physics | 2 | 4 | ||
| Thin Film Physics: | Evaporation, sputtering and other techniques, bonding, hardness, thickness, uniformity, composition, electrical and optical properties. Applications: semiconductor physics, medical and biological fields. | ||||
| Surface Physics: | Structure of surfaces, electronic properties, atomic motion, adsorbtion of atoms and molecules. | ||||
| PHY 320 | Optics and Analytical Techniques | Prerequisites: PHY 213, 214; 223 GS; WTW 128, 126. Recommended: PHY 319, WTW 218, 220. | 2 | 6 | |
| Optics: | Wave guides and optical fibres, Fourier techniques, spatial filtering, transfer functions, holography, interferometers, Schlieren techniques. | ||||
| Analytical techniques: | Rutherford back scattering, channeling, Auger electron spectroscopy ellipsometry, Xray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Hall measurements. | ||||
| PHY 321 | Modern Optics and Optics of Thin Films | 2 | 4 | ||
| Modern Optics: | Ray solutions of Maxwell's equations, lense transformations of Gaussian rays, optical resonators, light sources, coherence, spontaneous and stimu;ated transitions, optical amplification, laser systems, rate equations. | ||||
| Optics of Thin Films: | |||||
| PHY 322 | Relativity Theorie and Atomic Physics | Background knowledge as aquired in PHY 224, 312; WTW 218, 211, 220, 221 is assumed. Recommended: PHY 221, 328. | 2 | 4 | |
| Relativity Theorie: | Classical relativity, first postulate, inertial co-ordinate systems, Galilei-transformation, aberration by stars, Michelson-Morley experiment, second postulate, length contraction, time dilation, Lorentz transformation, equality, causality, transformation, equality, causality, transformation of velocities, twin paradox, relativistic Doppler effect. Minkowski space, world line, position four-vector, four-velocity, four-force, four-momentum, conservation of energy, relativistic collisions, zero-mass particles, transformation of electric and magnetic fields, principle of equivalence, gravitational red-shift, Schwarzschild-radius. | ||||
| Atomic Physics: | Spectral lines, selection rules, Pauli’s exclusion principle, helium atom, many-electron atoms, L-S and J-J coupling, one and two electron spectra, Xray spectra, cibrational spectra, solid state bonding: Van der Waals, metal, ionic and covalent. | ||||
| PHY 324 | Nuclear and Particle Physics | Semi-empirical mass equation, magic numbers, Q-values, symmetry nuclear forces, deuteron, shell model, collective model, scattering, quark model of hadrons and mesons, elementary particles, gauge field theory. Prerequisite: PHY 224. Background knowledge as aquired in PHY 312; WTW 218, 211, 220, 221 is assumed. Recommended PHY 322. | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 326 | Advanced Solid State Physics | May only be taken in combination with PHY 328 Brillouin zones and space group symmetry, metals and semiconductors, energy bands, cyclotron resonance, impurity states, optical absorption and exitron, quantum Hall effect, metal semiconductor contacts, surface states. | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 327 | Physics Project | May only be taken in conjuction with course selected from PHY 324-326 | 2 | 6 | |
| PHY 328 | Introductory Solid State Physics | Periodic structures, lattice waves, crystals defects, electron states, dynamics of electrons, transport properties, optical properties, magnetism, super conductivity. Recommended: PHY 224, 311. | 2 | 4 | |
| PHY 381 | Solar Energy |
Radiation outside the earth atmosphere. Solar constant, spectral distribution. Atmospheric attenuation. Beam and diffuse radiation. Effect of orientation of receiver. Measurement & characterization of solar radiation. Interaction of radiation with opaque bodies. Laws of Planck & Wien. Black & grey bodies. Spectral dependance of absorptance, emmitance & reflectance. Spectrally selective surfaces. Translucent bodies. Greenhouse effects. Convection between sloping plane surfaces. Suppression. Wind. Flat & concentrating collectors. Spherical, Parabolic, Fresnel and non imaging concentrators: for spot and strip absorbers. Ray tracing. Thermal energy storage - stratified & mixed. Economy & durability. Protection against freezing & overheating. Thermosyphon. Optimal flowrate. Cooling. Passive design of buildings. Photovoltaic cells. Desalination. Required. PHY 214 or courses on heat transfer in Engineering Faculty. Recommended: PHY 213 and 215 | 2 | 6 |
| Code | Title | no. of lectures | |
| FSK 710 | Mathematical Methods | Series, complex analysis, Bessel and other special functions, integral transformations, Green functions. | 30 |
| FSK 711 | Classical Dynamics | Advanced problems in classical dynamics, Lagrange and Hamilton formalisms, canonical transformations, continuum mechanics, Hamilton-Jacobi theory. | 38 |
| FSK 712 | Statistical Physics | Micro canonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles; Bose and Fermi systems. | 30 |
| FSK 713 | Quantum Mechanics I | Measuring Processes. General uncertainty principles, harmonic oscillator, symmetries, invariances and conservation laws, angular momentum, spin, perturbation theory, Schrödinger, Heisenberg and interaction pictures. | 28 |
| FSK 714 | Electrodynamics I | Poisson equation, Green functions, Maxwell equation | 20 |
| Code | Title | no. of lectures | |
| FSK 720 | Solid State Physics | Theoretical description of the energy bands of silicon and germanium. | 34 |
| FSK 721 | Quantum Optics | Properties of laser light; monochrome coherency and intensity; resonators and modes; different types of lasers; mode decomposition of the electromagnetic field; semi classical; and full quantum theory of transitions. | 24 |
| FSK 725 | Semiconductor Physics | Structure , electrical and optical properties of semiconductors; semiconductor-metal contacts; Ohmic and Schottky contacts; influence of impurities and defects on the properties of these contacts; quantum well semiconductor structures. | 22 |
| FSK 723 | Quantum Mechanics II | Postulates of quantum mechanics; Dirac-notation; spin 1/2 systems; harmonic oscillator; hydrogen atom. | 34 | ||
| FSK 726 | Quantum Mechanics III | Many-body techniques; Green functions; Feynman and Feynman-Goldstone diagrams; scattering theory. | 34 | ||
| FSK 727 | Nuclear Physics | Collective model; shell model; approximate nuclear-structure models such as Hartree Fock; random phase approximation; Tamm-Dankoff reaction theory and optical model. | 24 | ||
| FSK 724 | Electrodynamics II | Maxwell's equations from relativistic perspective; action functions of particles in fields; electromagnetic field tensor. | 22 | ||
| FSK 729 | Hydrodynamics | Ideal and viscose liquids; turbulence; shock waves; detonation theory; relativistic fluid dynamics. | 24 | ||
The courses and programs of study which may be taken for the B.Sc. degree are described fully in the document "Studieprogramme vir B.Sc." (Programs of study for the B.Sc. degree).
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